Piano Forum

Piano Board => Performance => Topic started by: js21 on September 02, 2014, 04:15:39 AM

Title: Can't stretch hands in Beethoven op 37
Post by: js21 on September 02, 2014, 04:15:39 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm having difficulties in playing these measures of Beethovens 3rd Piano Concerto (
Sorry can't give measure numbers as my printed out edition doesn't give them).(https://imgur.com/F2I3yHI.jpg)

I can't seem to stretch my left hand far enough to be able to rotate my wrist in order to play the higher note. Any advice? I see this problem as well in the tremolo at the beginning of the Largo. I'm making great progress on the rest of the piece so I hope these few passages don't ruin it for me :(

Thank you for any help

Title: Re: Can't stretch hands in Beethoven op 37
Post by: iansinclair on September 03, 2014, 02:38:15 AM

A tenth is a bit of a stretch for almost anyone, and I would be rather surprised if you could make it with a perfect legato.  Myself I would cheat, and use just a touch of the sustain pedal -- just a touch, mind you -- between the first and second notes of each of the left hand triplets.  Release as soon as you hit the second note of each triplet.

Title: Re: Can't stretch hands in Beethoven op 37
Post by: mysterium on September 05, 2014, 04:54:08 PM

Try do hold the g for a short while so that you dont get a staccato sound, and then use pedal - thats how i do it :)